NFL Looking into Amending Its Marijuana Ban

The NFL is looking to make changes to its ban on marijuana during the collective bargaining discussions.

Former NFL player Martellus Bennett estimates that about 89% of NFL players have used marijuana, many for medicinal purposes due to injury, Sports Illustrated reported.

“The NFL isn’t yet willing to make dramatic and wholesale changes to the marijuana testing policy because the NFL hopes to dangle the changes within the context of collective bargaining, securing a concession from the union in exchange for softening a policy that badly needs to be softened,” said sportswriter Mike Florio.

Currently, after two failed drug tests an NFL player gets suspended. Following the first failed drug test, players must enter a “Stage Two” intervention program which includes regular drug testing for as long as 24 months.

Bennett said, “There are times of the year where your body just hurts so bad. You don’t want to be popping pills all the time. There are anti-inflammatory drugs you take so long that they start to eat at your liver, kidneys and things like that. A human made that. God made weed.”

It is expected that the NFL will change its marijuana drug policies before 2021, which is when the current collective bargaining agreement expires.